Ross and Alice

To the Right Honorable SandDuners: The theme of the post is you do it for yourself, and bad experiences can happen. Obviously, you want to soft soap that. Also, it's not that "one" volunteer didn't notify us, no one even sent a simple e-mail. But that is not the theme of the post. It's that you do this for yourself, and the other things that happen don't really matter. What triggered the post was I was contacted by an ASA member and asked to work this show because I was told that they are having trouble getting volunteers this year. AND the same arrogant mis-treatment of the workers is back. If that is NOT the case then I stand corrected, and your beef is with them, not me. If urinating on my thread makes you feel better,, then pee away, but you're peeing in the wind. You owe me no apologies, no one does, and I ask for none. Ya do it for yourself, and these mistakes can happen, I chose to not let it happen again. I'll retire soon, and plan to get very involved with friends Of Dumont Dunes. As for your worthless 4 year remark: yea,, in 4 years we didnt get bit by the same dog twice, like so many others. PS: You mention your affilation with CORVA. I won't bring up how those funds are being spent,, we'll just let that alarming can-o-worms go and not drive down that dark alley, and we'll continue to support them as well. Happy Duning Sanduners,, and we're still in this battle together no matter how we differ in opinions. Ross

Thanks, close enough. I appreciate it.

Thanks DF, it's the problem. I appreciate the help. What's a fair dealer labor charge for replaceing the switch, without holding you to it.

Thanks DF, I'll check that out 96 Buick Regal deluxe It's a teriffic car.

Checked that. The signal died a slow death. Must be some sort of relay or Flasher.

Wifes right turn signal quit. Bulbs OK. Did GM still use "flashers", or what do I attack next to correct it? '96 Buick Regal Thanks, -

V8 rail was involved in Dumont poker runs if I remember, perhaps it was with FODD as well, I forget. But I do remember they quit because of insurance.

Hard to believe Stewart didnt make the cut. Seemed to always be the guy to beat.

We run sandstars, but the guys we run with with haulers seem to stick to the bowls better at higher speeds. They just have more pushing them along. The stars ride nice, turn nice, and are really teriffic though.

If ya volunteer to work a show like this, your first reason has to be for yourself. Not because ya want anything in return other than to help the industry and help the organizations working to keep the dunes open. They're having big trouble getting volunteers this year, and I saw it coming. All the "Staff" of SOME of the duner organizations take up the RV spots for themselves, and the volunteers working the event can stick it. Ya get no RV spot, ya get no free pass to get in or parking, nothing if ya come in to work for free. Ya work the grounds, the food booths, the membership tables because it's for you. We were scheduled to work several shifts and the ASA booth. Our names and shift time we worked and where we worked were officially posted on the web site,, we placed the kids with sitters, re-arranged our work schedules and took vacation days,, got to the SSSS and our names were not on the list, no pass to get in or parking,, totally forgotten. Another couple assigned to work quit in disgust because they got chewed out for handing out a couple 2" stickers for free, and were treated like shoplifters. That kinda hurt, we felt like a horses a$$, but what really hurt was all the trouble we took to get off work ect, and the tank of gas to get there,, then,, ignored. So,, ya put up with this stuff because of the fight against the radical enviros, and everything else that happens doesn't matter. It's for you has got to be your sole reason, or mixing with the sand crowd, and ya don't need to volunteer for that. Just sit at the bars and drink the $8, 10 oz beers, and chat with the duners. They can't get volunteers NOT because no one cares, they can't get them because volunteers that make it all happen are treated badly by the organizations staffs who scoop up all the bennies for themselves.

Thanks for the responses.

And we're a bunch of drunks too.

How do you make one? Thanks,

We're getting the sand toys dialed in and duning thoughts are passing through my pea brain. The wife pulled into Little Dumont Dunes towing at about 1 AM,, then thought she had the wrong place, did a "U" turn into the quicksand and got stuck. Stuck to the chassis deluxe. Looked brutal,, but not really,, but she thought it was. So she looks around, realizes she's in the right place,, see's our brite green strobe flashing at our campsite in the awsum Death Valley nite,, and comes to get me to get her un-stuck. No problem,, the 4x4 GMC and a tow strap and we'll be just fine in just seconds. I get out at her stuck truck and toy trailer, get ready to hook it all up, and the wife insists I listen to how it happened before we move everything. I never loose my cool, or get sore with her,, no reason to explain I think., I was consoling her that: " it's ok,,it happens"., But she felt bad anyway. Really it was no BFD. So I say: "Tell me back at camp" "No" she says,, "I want you to listen to me first". "Ahh, baby,, tell me in a few minutes." I plea. OK,, Imagine that everyone is now arriving at the dunes,, and all kinds of 10 million candlepower lites are shining on me,, and I looked like the biggest sorry weinie standing there listening to the story, truck stuck deluxe. So I listen, listen and listen some more. The story went on forever,, me smiling and being awsum,,, Lots and lots rigs are slowly passing by,, everyone staring at me in the glow of aircraft landing lites, thinking what a dips#it. This guy knows better. Finally hooked on the sling and yanked her out gently in a matter of seconds. I got over it. Is this what ya call being a good listener to the wife??? Any stuck stories, or is just me?

We camp in the hardpax at Dumont, just above the collection machines. Ya shouldnt have any trouble there, and we have plenty of Tow straps & 4X4's to pull everyone free if they do get stuck.

We've heard from more than one couple the LEOS won't let the little one ride their quads if if they are of age and properly equipped. Any truth to this?

http://mfile.akamai.com/12924/wmv/vod.ibsy...152183.200k.asx I've always felt those with sludge problems in their late model cars never got the oil change they paid for. Ya pay peanuts for car service, Ya get monkeys. This video proves it.

OK,, we both worked, but we would have got off and gone with lots of friends to the race in So Cali this weekend but for good reason, price. Many of our friends went, but they all claim they won't go back. Reasons: Well,, did ya hear the interviews with the drivers and team owners & NASCAR on speed vision and NBC? What a crock: "They all claimed it wasn't a full house because of the heat,, because of the long weekend,, because of the high gas",, ya heard every reason but the real reason. The real reason it wasn't sold out,, and will draw fewer next year: It was $1.150.00 per RV plus another $100 per person to get in. That one thousand one hundred and fifty dollars for a not so choice spot. NASCAR has always been a reasonable price spectator sport,, but they've gone too far. Good to see Toyota enter,, it'll eventually bring on more competition. Would hate to see it be like formula where the same 2 guys win all the time. Can't help it but love that Chevys are winning, but it'll be interesting seeing the Toyota and Waltrip hook up. He has to be to loosingest driver in NASCAR. We are officially priced out of taking the RV. We'd rather do something than watch others do it at that kind of cost. Whats your take?:

Nah,, wish we did go to Dumont. Worked the whole weekend, as did the wife. Halloween weekend looks like the first trip unless the heat breaks. Glamis nitetime run this coming weekend, may go, but with YFZ's ya need fireproof chaps. Do they ever dump the heat on your legs.

Groups camping together at the dunes are just like your neighborhood at home: Ya got the critic, ya got the hater family that hates everyone for no apparent reason, ya got the group that the cops are dealing with, ya got the guy with all his stuff taken apart and wrenching all nite, ya got the guy with his act together and makes it all look easy, ya got the guy with more time on his hands than he can use and won't leave you alone, ya got the really cool guy that helps everyone, and has a solution for all problems. And, ya got the reclusive couple, and the quarreling couple, and the grandparents with zillions of happy grand kids and lots of rolling stock. Then the family that never stops partying and riding their RV open 24/7,, and on fire with fun, never stops for even a minute. And always, the stretched-to-the-limit-budget family that barely made it, and has really dated and shopworn toys, but seems to have more fun than anyone. Saving just enough gas to get back home. I camped with a group and that's exactly what it was, just like home. A really fun trip,, but some takes: One family didn't know anyone in the group, but made it clear they and their kids hated everyone. They took every opportunity to demonstrate it too. Meanie kids to the other children & the mom had a face like a Wal Mart paycheck and a K Mart kackle for a voice. On the day we all arrived with different groups: After a long group ride with most the campers, we all got back to camp, congregated at our RV and for the whole group Alice has set out a big ice chest full of cold beer, and made Kosher Hot dogs on nice fresh 4 S buns with chips. One guy in the group critized us for that. Really stunned us. I later filled his sons Honda new Honda 450 quad with race gas, and let the incident slide. Ya don't deal hate with hate. A day or two later the LEOS were dealing with issues with others camping a few rigs down from us. It was flags or something like that. One old jasper, spent the whole time wrenching his brand new sandrail. Never really made it onto to the dunes for more than a few minutes, then back under the wrench. Cheapie dunebuggies will make a mechanic outta you the first season. The party family,, it never stopped rocking and ridin' doors open lites on all the time. Often these families can't do but a couple trips so they make the most of it. Outta propane, outta water, outta gas,, outta beer,,,, they thumb a ride into town with Alice to re-supply,, and bar hop all the way in and back. Alice patient, sober, accomodating,,, Yeah, you can bar hop in Death Valley, it's been going on for years. Lot's of good friends we hung out with too. Ya make the best of it. Just like home. _________________

I've seen that guy. My wife used to be a soft touch for that stuff. I broke her of that, and I don't expect to break her of anything else. It's best to find some sort of charity ya like and youre sure about and channel your sympathy cash that way.

It's essential to know what caused it, so you and your family can avoid making the same mistake. Riding double doesnt work in the sand for most especially when drinking. Hold the thought that this is very rare of the tens of thousands of trips (perhaps much more all added up) people take at the dunes each season. Ambulance makes an occasional vist to the little league fields by my home,, shows that with sports ya get injuries,, with precautions and good sense they don't have to be fatal.

Off the CHP website: Incident: 0363 Type: Possible Fatality Location: GLAMIS Zoom Map: 6265 3J info as of: 9/2/2006 3:41:07 PM ADDITIONAL DETAILS 11:55AM LINE 27 IS 1144 SUBJ 11:53AM FINAL 1144 / 1015 23153 10:19AM 1039 85-5 - ENRT 10:19AM 44 ADV 5 THAT MY UNIT WAS HIT BY ICSD UNIT 9:40AM 44 WILL HANDLE BLOOD DRAW ON SCENE 9:40AM 44 1022 21 MERCY AIR IS 1097 9:14AM 44 SEE IF 11 CAN 1198 AT PMH FOR BLOOD 9:14AM 1039 85-44 REQ 21 RESPOND FOR POSS BLOOD DRAW ON DRIVER 9:11AM 1141 ALMOST 1097 9:11AM ICSO SGT ADV THE 1144 IS THE PASSENGER 9:07AM ADV OF EXT ETA FUELING IN HOLTVILLE 9:07AM 1039 85-44 / 5 9:06AM INJURED PERSON STILL ON SCENE 9:05AM 1039 85-5 (OIC) 9:02AM THIS IS AN OFF-ROAD T/C 9:01AM ONE 1144 A Banshee ridden by a couple crashed at high speed approx 4:00 to 7:00 AM yesterday morning near the Glamis Beach Store. (This time of Year events are held late at night/early morning). It's suspected the couple laid on the scene for several hours before being discovered. The female passenger killed at the scene,, rumor that the male may have died later in the day. Quote by someone at the scene: My girlfriend and I just happened to stop by the beach store on the way from Niland to the river after doing some hunting. We arrived at the store about 20 minutes after the two were found. There were about 7 friends around, half of them crying, and 3 store employees. We took the mans pulse. It quick and strong, but he was in and out of conciousness. Her eyes were swollen and a blackish purple. There was alot of blood from her mouth and nose. I asked for a sheet to cover the girl as the friend were falling apart, but the store emplyees were adamant about touching nothing as this was on store property and BLM was on the way. I said a little prayer with my hand on the mans foot gave my condolences to the friends and left. It appears that they may have been riding (at high speed) over a 4' pile of 8' long telephone pole rounds and crashed. Both were wearing helmets. It looked as if the man removed his own as well as the girls helmet and tried to give her water. I looked for damage to the helmets. Both were scraped but not much else. Hers was full of blood. My first impulse was to get the camera out, but I quicky saw the disrespect in it, and glad I did. I have never seen a dead body before and will not soon forget the images in my head. Very scary. ----------------------------------- We never ride double, and we rarely ride at nite. __________________

That road can be pretty hairy when icy, or in a blind snowstorm, but it's a pretty cool way to go. It's a bit primitive, but I like it. The long way through Pahrump is not much longer travel time easier on the heavy junk. I'd do the other route in good weather first, because it could be a bit of a surprise your first time, especially the way back.

That is a wild game, looks great. We have 3 PSP's in our house and they are awsum. They come stock with wireless multi person play, and the kids tell me they use the neighbors wireless router for somethin,, hell damfino what that means. My only gripe is they were super expensive, and not to many games available.